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Walkability Study
Article: Walking to Protect Your Health
Walking is one of the most important actions you can take to protect your
health. As you may have noticed, Morgantown is the site where the WVU Hospitals
and the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health are seeking to increase our
community's health and well-being through walking. This model may be used around
the country and around the world. Stay tuned to this exciting program.
Why walking?
Walking is seen as the exercise of preference for most Americans. It's easy. You
need no special equipment, and injuries are extremely rare. The health benefits
are outstanding. People report that walking gives you more time than it takes.
We are often tired and overwhelmed with so much to do. Once you walk for 10
minutes, you begin to feel better. Walking actually makes you more energetic.
By now, who has not heard that we should be more active? But, few people realize
what a big impact regular walking can have on their health and quality of life.
A lack of physical activity and a poor diet rival smoking as leading causes of
death in this country. While most people wouldn’t be surprised by the 400,000
deaths caused by smoking each year, few would guess that our lack of physical
activity, along with a poor diet, causes the same number of deaths every year,
1,200 deaths every day. Thirty percent of the local population is totally
inactive. Inactivity leads to obesity, and 33 percent of American adults are
obese. The obesity rates in our region are as bad as the national average.
Regular walking can reduce your risk of heart disease by half. Walking decreases
the risks of diabetes, colon cancer and breast cancer. It reduces stress,
anxiety and depression, and elevates mood. Increasing your walking can also
decrease your cigarette smoking and other tobacco use. In essence, walking is
about as close as you can get to a "magic bullet" for health.
Walking will help you maintain your ideal body weight and feel better. Walking
is good for people of all ages and fitness levels. When you can see these
benefits, you are more likely to continue.
If you walk, you can spend time with your family and friends while enjoying the
great trail system we have along the Monongahela River, Decker's Creek, and
Cheat Lake. In addition, we have trails at South Middle School, Mountainview
Elementary School, Woodburn Elementary, and White Park. If the weather is bad,
go to the mall or the WVU Coliseum. Walk at one of the fitness facilities, or
meander through the hallways at work. Walking can be done with others, alone, in
a formal setting or around your neighborhood.
Lots of WV Walks events are happening this week. Join us today at 1 pm for a Dog
Walk at the Hazel Ruby McQuain amphitheater. Walking makes for happy dogs and
healthy dog walkers. This Tuesday at 10 am in the Ruby Hospital lobby, prominent
Morgantown physicians will hold a press conference to discuss the importance of
walking to good health, wellness, and weight control. Mark Fenton, former
Olympic race walker and editor of Walking Magazine, will be in town all day
Wednesday. You can meet Mark at the Mountaineer Mall at 9 am in front of
Gabriel's. On Saturday, the WVU Hospitals sponsors its annual Kids Fair at the
Morgantown Mall. Please stop by the WV Walks booth.
Of course, there are lots of walking groups across town. Join Linda Little at
the Courthouse at 12 noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dr. Greg Good leads
wellness walks at White Park on Mondays from 4 to 5 pm and on Wednesdays from
noon to 1 pm. If these times and places are not convenient, give me a call at
293-0763. Perhaps you can help us set up a walking group in your neighborhood.
Isn't it time you started walking?